Cardinals Urged to Trade for Former First-Round QB to Replace Kyler Murray

NFL insider suggests Arizona target Anthony Richardson in a low-risk deal with the Colts.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:41pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football quarterback in mid-throw, with the figure broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of deep red, navy blue, and metallic gold, conveying a sense of motion and instability.A bold, conceptual illustration captures the fragmented state of the Arizona Cardinals' quarterback situation as they search for their next franchise signal-caller.Indianapolis Today

The Arizona Cardinals are in need of a new starting quarterback after moving on from Kyler Murray, and NFL analyst Ralph Vacchiano has identified a potential trade target - Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts. Richardson was a first-round pick in 2023 but has struggled with injuries and inconsistency. Vacchiano believes the Cardinals could acquire the young QB for a late-round pick as they look to rebuild their roster.

Why it matters

The Cardinals had another disappointing season in 2025, leading to the departures of both their starting quarterback and head coach. With the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 draft, they may not be able to land one of the top QB prospects, making a trade for a young, high-upside player like Richardson an intriguing option as they try to find their next franchise signal-caller.

The details

Richardson was selected 17th overall by the Colts in 2023 with the hope that he would be their quarterback of the future. However, after starting 11 games in 2024 and throwing for 1,814 yards with 8 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, he appeared in just 2 games in 2025 due to injuries. With the Colts now having Daniel Jones as their starter, Richardson has become expendable, and Vacchiano believes the Cardinals could acquire him for a 2026 7th-round pick and a 2027 6th-round pick.

  • The Cardinals fired head coach Jonathan Gannon and moved on from quarterback Kyler Murray following the 2025 season.
  • The 2026 NFL Draft is coming up, where the Cardinals hold the 3rd overall pick.

The players

Anthony Richardson

A 23-year-old quarterback who was a first-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2023, but has struggled with injuries and inconsistency in his first two NFL seasons.

Kyler Murray

The former starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, who the team parted ways with following the 2025 season.

Jacoby Brissett

A veteran quarterback who could serve as a placeholder for the Cardinals in 2026 as they search for their next long-term answer at the position.

Gardner Minshew

Another veteran quarterback option the Cardinals could turn to in 2026 as they rebuild their roster.

Mike LaFleur

The new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, who is a disciple of the Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan coaching tree.

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What they’re saying

“Why not take a low-risk flier on the former first-round pick with a big body (6-4, 244), huge arm and untapped potential? The Cards have veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew as place-holders at quarterback until the 2027 draft, but Richardson would give new coach Mike LaFleur, a Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan disciple, a young player to try and develop.”

— Ralph Vacchiano, NFL Insider

What’s next

The Cardinals will need to evaluate their options at quarterback this offseason, including potentially trading for Anthony Richardson from the Colts. They hold the 3rd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but may not be able to land one of the top QB prospects, making Richardson an intriguing alternative.

The takeaway

The Cardinals are in a difficult position at quarterback after parting ways with Kyler Murray, and will need to get creative in their search for a new long-term solution. Trading for a former first-round pick like Anthony Richardson, who has shown flashes of potential, could be a low-risk, high-reward move as they look to rebuild their roster under new head coach Mike LaFleur.